A physiotherapist may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of back pain or a sporting injury. Some common misconceptions, however, are that physiotherapists only benefit athletes or that physiotherapists just provide massages.

This is far from the truth!

Read on to learn more about physiotherapists and how to know whether you may need one.

What Is A Physiotherapist?

A physiotherapist is a qualified health professional that can assess, plan and manage the care of people with musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and/or neurological problems. You can find physiotherapists in a range of healthcare settings, such as private practices, community health centres and clinics, public and private hospitals, sports organisations, and aged care facilities. Physiotherapists not only treat the condition, but they also work closely with each patient to help them participate and achieve their activity-related goals.

Physiotherapists will develop an individualised treatment plan specific to a patient that may include:

• Education and advice on self-management of the condition.
• Exercise prescription to improve mobility, strength, balance, coordination, posture and/or cardiovascular fitness.
• Prescription of aids or assistive devices (e.g. braces, walking aids, taping, pillows).
• Administration of passive modalities to relieve pain, reduce stiffness and/or reduce swelling:
  • Manual therapy (e.g. soft tissue work, joint mobilisations).
  • Electrophysical agents (e.g. ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation, shockwave therapy).
  • Dry needling.

What Sort Of Conditions Can Physiotherapists Help Manage?

Physiotherapists often work with patients with a wide range of health conditions. Some of the more common cases can include:

• Injury And Pain Management:
  Injuries and pain can arise from many different scenarios, such as sports-related, falls-related, work-related, motor-vehicle-accident injuries. They can range from a mild ankle sprain from netball to a hip fracture from falling downstairs. In these cases, physiotherapists can help facilitate healing, progress you to your goals or pre-injury activities, and reduce the risk of re-injury.
  
• Management Of Chronic Pain And Disease:
  Chronic pain and/or specific conditions, such as stroke, diabetes and arthritis, will have more long-term or even life-long effects and therefore can interfere with a person’s ability to participate in everyday activities. Physiotherapists will work closely with these patients to minimise the effect of the chronic condition on their participation in activities and quality of life.
  
• Pre- and post-operative rehabilitation:
Physiotherapy is often a crucial part of the recovery process following a surgical procedure, particularly orthopaedic surgeries such as joint replacements and tissue repairs. A physiotherapist can guide a patient through the tricky early stages of the post-operative period and gradually progress them safely back to everyday activities or sports. Additionally, physiotherapy is also recommended in the pre-operative period (before surgery) to help prepare a patient for the procedure and enhance their post-op recovery.
  

Specific Conditions

There are also other conditions that physiotherapists can provide care for which you may not have realised, such as:

• Pregnancy:
  Physiotherapists can provide guidance through both the pre- and post-natal period of pregnancy. This may include pregnancy exercises and classes to optimise the body’s health during and after pregnancy, as well as appropriate treatment to address pregnancy-related conditions such as back pain, wrist swelling and mastitis.

• Vertigo:
  Vestibular physiotherapy is a specialised area of treatment that addresses problems relating to the inner ear such as vertigo. A physiotherapist trained in this area can help alleviate vertigo and vestibular-related symptoms and provide self-management strategies. 

• Pelvic Floor Health:
Pelvic floor health is an area not so readily talked about and pelvic floor conditions are often suffered in silence by both women and men. Pelvic floor conditions, such as incontinence, constipation, prolapse and vaginismus, can in fact be treated by a physiotherapist trained in the area (e.g. Women’s Health physiotherapist).

• Headaches and TMJ (jaw) pain:
  Headaches and TMJ (jaw) pain both can be treated with physiotherapy through specific techniques, particularly when the pain is being caused by problems of the surrounding muscles, joints and posture of the head and neck.

The best way to know if you may need a physiotherapist is to book a session as soon as possible rather than let a problem linger on. If you’re still unsure, at UniquePhysio we offer a Free Initial Assessment where we assess your needs and let you know whether you will benefit from physiotherapy treatment.

Book with us today to get started!